Table top assembly for vehicle bumper jack

ABSTRACT

A table top assembly for a vehicle bumper jack including a planar table top, a table support member including a pair of parallel spaced guide members secured to the bottom of the table top and a pair of jaws adapted to grip opposing surfaces of the column of the bumper jack and mounted between said guide members for relative longitudinal movement of said table top over the bumper jack.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a table top assembly, and more particularly toa table top assembly especially adapted for supporting a table top uponthe top of a bumper jack.

Heretofore, automobile mechanics and home craftsmen have had noconvenient place for supporting their tools while working under thehood, or in the engine area, of a motor vehicle. The tools are normallykept upon a nearby work table or work bench, upon the ground, or uponthe floor adjacent the vehicle, or laid upon the vehicle itself,subjecting the vehicle surface to scratching or marring.

The broad idea of a work table supported upon a column attached to thebumper of an automobile for the convenience of the person working uponthe automobile, is disclosed in the Haigh U.S. Pat. No. 2,195,366.Nevertheless, Haigh's work table support requires its own, especiallyconstructed support column, and does not utilize the advantage ofsupporting a table top upon a vehicle bumper jack.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a convenient worktable for the vehicle motor mechanic or home craftsman utilizing thealready available vehicle bumper jack as the column support for anespecially constructed table top assembly.

The table top assembly made in accordance with this invention isespecially constructed and adapted to support a table top upon the topof the column of a conventional vehicle bumper jack.

The table top assembly includes a planar table top of convenient size,to the bottom of which is secured a table support member or frameincluding a pair of elongated parallel guide members or rails. Mountedbetween the support members are a pair of jaws having opposing grippingsurfaces for gripping opposite sides of the column of the bumper jackadjacent the top of the column. These jaws are adapted to be movabletoward and away from each other and locked in fixed spaced relationshipin order to tightly grip opposing surfaces of the jack column. The jawsare also provided with means cooperative with the guide members forlongitudinal adjustable movement relative to the guide members. Theguide members may include elongated tracks, such as elongated slots,receiving cooperative track follower members, such as follower pins topermit each jaw to be longitudinally moved relative to the guidemembers. The follower pins may also be threaded and provided withlocking nuts for securing the jaws in various fixed positions along theguide members.

The construction of the table top assembly not only provides means forreadily moving one or more of the jaws toward and away from each otherfor gripping and releasing the top portion of the jack column, but alsoprovides means for moving both jaws relative to the table top so thatthe table top may be moved to various laterally adjustable positionsrelative to the jack column, for the convenience of the mechanic orcraftsman.

The table top assembly is adapted to be readily removed from the bumperjack for storage, occupying a minimum of space, and also to release thebumper jack for its conventional intended use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the table top assembly mounted upon avehicle bumper jack secured to the front bumper of an automobile, shownfragmentarily;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the table top assembly disclosed in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevation of the table topassembly disclosed in FIG, 1;

FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section taken along the line 5--5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, top, perspective view of the table top assembly,with portions broken away;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, disclosing modified jaws; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, bottom plan section similar to FIG. 4, butdisclosing the modified jaws of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, FIG. 1 discloses a tabletop assembly 10, made in accordance with this invention, mounted on thetop of the column 11 of a bumper jack 12. The bumper jack 12 has a baseplate 13 and a bumper hook mechanism 14 for vertical adjustment upon thecolumn 11 when the hook mechanism is actuated by the crank handle 15.The column 11, of course, is adapted to be maintained in a verticalposition when the bumper hook mechanism 14 engages the front bumper 17of the automobile 18. Thus, the table top assembly 10 is maintained in aconvenient operative position adjacent the front end of the automobile18, with the hood 19 raised, so that any tools supported upon the tabletop assembly 10 are readily available to the mechanic or home craftsmanas he works within the engine area beneath the hood 19 of the automobile18.

The table top assembly 10 includes a planar table top 20 of anyconvenient size and shape, such as the square-shaped table top 20illustrated in FIG. 2. The table top 20 may be made of any convenientmaterial, such as plywood, which will support the weight of the desiredtools, and which may be readily secured to the table support frame 21.

The table top 20 preferably includes an unobstructed top planar surface22 and a bottom planar surface 23.

In the preferred form of the assembly 10, the table support frame 21includes a pair of elongated guide members 24 and 25 of angularcross-section both of which have top horizontal, coplanar flanges 26adapted to fit flush against the bottom surface 23 of the table top 20,and opposed spaced apart vertical parallel flanges 27. The tophorizontal flanges 26 are provided with longitudinally spaced screwholes 29 for the reception of wood screws or bolts 30 extending throughthe thickness of the table top 20. The screws or bolts 30 secure theelongated guide members 24 and 25 to the bottom surface 23 in fixedposition, spaced apart parallel to each other a predetermined distance.The screw holes 29 may be tapped, if desired, or nuts may be provided,for reception of the bolts 30, in order to secure the table top to thehorizontal flanges 26.

Formed in the vertical flanges 27 are a pair of elongated tracks orslots 32 which are substantially coextensive and in horizontalalignment. Adapted to fit in the space between the vertical flanges 27for free longitudinal movement therebetween are a pair of jaws 34 and35.

Projecting laterally from opposite sides of each jaw 34 and 35 is atrack follower or pin in the form of a threaded bolt 36 having aretainer head 37. The follower pins 36 project laterally through thecorresponding guide slots 32, with the heads 37 on the opposite sides ofthe vertical flanges 27 from the jaws 34 and 35 to permit freelongitudinal movement of each jaw 34 and 35 relative to the guidemembers 24 and 25. The bolt heads 37 may be tightened to turn thethreaded pin members 36 within the corresponding tapped holes 38 withinthe opposite sides of the jaws 34 and 35, in order to hold each, oreither, jaw 34 and 35 in a fixed position relative to the guide members24 and 25.

The gripping surfaces or faces 39 and 40 of the respective jaws 34 and35, preferably have configurations generally conforming to the grippedsurfaces of the column 11 of the bumper jack 12. It will be notedparticularly in FIGS. 4 and 6 that the jaw 35 has a semi-cylindricalrecess 41 in the gripping surface 39 in order to better receive and gripthe corresponding surface of the jack column 11.

In order to more securely lock the jaws 34 and 35 in a relatively fixedspaced relationship, and particularly when the gripping faces 39 and 40are engaging the opposite faces of the column 11, a pair of lockingbolts 43 extend through corresponding holes 44 in jaw 35, with thethreaded ends of the bolts 43 being threadedly secured in the tappedholes 45 of the jaw 34. By turning or tightening the bolts 43 in onedirection, the jaws 34 and 35 are slowly moved together to securely gripand hold the opposing surfaces of the jack column 11, whilecounter-rotation of the bolts 43 will gradually move the jaws 34 and 35away from each other to release the jack column 11.

In order to facilitate the release of the jaws 34 and 35, coiledcompression springs 46 may be fitted around the respective bolts 43between the opposed jaw faces 39 and 40.

In order to better grip the ratchet notches 48 upon the jack column 11,the gripping surface 40 may be provided with one or more projectingteeth 49 (FIG. 5). If a plurality of teeth 49 are employed, such asdisclosed in the drawings, then they are preferably spaced verticallyapart by the same increments as the ratchet notches 48 on the jackcolumn 11.

The table top assembly 50 disclosed in FIGS. 7 and 8 is essentially thesame construction as that of the table top assembly 10, except that thejaws 74 and 75 are made from stamped pieces of sheet metal, instead ofbeing machined from solid blocks as are the jaws 34 and 35.

The jaws 74 and 75 have depending lateral ears 76 and 77 including pinor bolt holes 78 for receiving the track follower bolts 79 extendingthrough the elongated track slots 32. Bolts 79 are secured to the ears76 and 77 by nuts 80. The function of the follower bolts 79 is the sameas the follower bolts 36.

The jaw face 82 of the stamped jaw 74 is also provided with asemi-circular recess 83, while the jaw face 84 of the jaw 75 is providedwith one or more projecting teeth 85 having the same function as theteeth 49.

The same locking bolts 43 extend through corresponding holes in the jaws74 and 75, but the threaded ends are secured by nuts 87, instead of thetapped holes 45.

Otherwise, the function of the table top assembly 50 is essentially thesame as that of the table top assembly 10.

Referring to the table top assembly 10 disclosed in FIGS. 1-6, the tabletop 20 may be permanently attached to the support member 21 by thescrews or bolts 30, or the screws 30 may be removed so that the tabletop 20 and the guide members 24 and 25 may be stored disassembled.

In a similar manner, the jaw 34 and 35 may be permanently secured forrelative longitudinal slidable movement between the guide members 24 and25, or they may be disassembled from the guide members 24 and 25 andfrom each other when not in use.

However, when it is desired to use the table top assembly 10, the tabletop 20 must be fixedly secured to the horizontal flanges 26 of the guidemembers 24 and 25 by the screws 30, and the jaws 34 and 35 must beassembled for longitudinal movement relative to each other and to theguide members 24 and 25 by the follower pins 36.

With bolts 43 loosened, the spaced jaws 34 and 35 are lowered over thetop of the jack column 11, after the bumper jack 12 has been secured tothe front bumper 17, with the jaws 34 and 35 disposed on opposite sidesof the top of the column 11. The locking bolts 43 are then tighteneduntil the jaws 34 and 35 securely engage and grip the opposed surfacesof the top of the column 11.

The table top 20 may then be adjusted in a horizontal plane normal tothe vertical axis of the column 11 by loosening the bolt heads 37 andshifting the guide members 24 and 25 as a unit longitudinally relativeto the jaws 34 and 35. For example, as disclosed in FIG. 1, it may bedesired to move the table top 20 toward the automobile 18. After thetable top 20 has been shifted to its desired position, then the boltheads 37 are tightened to hold the table top 20 in a fixed positionrelative to the column 11.

The mechanic or home craftsman is then free to work upon the engine orother components beneath the hood 19 with his tools readily availableupon the table top 20.

After the mechanic or craftsman is through with his work, he removes histools, loosens the locking bolts 43 and removes the table top assembly10 from the top of the column 11 of the bumper jack 12. The jack handle15 is then actuated to lower and disengage the bumper hook 14 and theparts of the jack 12 are then stored independently of the table topassembly 10. The table top assembly 10 may itself be disassembled intoits basic components, such as the table top 20, the guide members 24 and25, and the jaws 34 and 35, or 74 and 75.

The entire table top assembly will fit, either assembled or unassembled,with ease into an automobile trunk or rear seat area for transportationto any desired location.

It is also possible to use the table top assemblies 10 and 50 mountedupon the column 11 of a bumper jack 12 for other purposes, such as anarm support or ammunition support for target shooting with rifles orpistols.

What is claimed is:
 1. A table top assembly for a vehicle bumper jackhaving an elongated column of predetermined cross-section and a bumperhook longitudinally movable on said column, comprising:(a) a tablesupport member, (b) a table top, (c) means securing said table top tosaid table support member, (d) a pair of jaws having opposing grippingsurfaces contoured to fit the opposing surfaces of the column of saidbumper jack, (e) means securing said jaws to said support member foradjustable movement of at least one of said jaws toward and away fromthe other of said jaws in a longitudinal path relative to said tablesupport member, for gripping the column of a vehicle bumper jack tosupport said table top on top of said column.
 2. The invention accordingto claim 1 in which said table top is planar, said table support membercomprising at least one elongated guide member parallel to said planartable top and means on said movable jaw cooperable with said guidemember to support said movable jaw for longitudinal movement along saidguide member.
 3. The invention according to claim 2 in which the otherof said jaws comprises means cooperable with said guide member formovement of said other jaw longitudinally relative to said guide member,whereby both said jaws are movable longitudinally of said guide memberrelative to each other and to said table top.
 4. The invention accordingto claim 3 in which said table support member further comprises a secondelongated guide member spaced from and parallel to said one guide memberon opposite sides of said jaws, both said jaws having means cooperablewith said guide member for longitudinal movement of either of said jawsalong both said guide members, both said elongated guide members havingcoplanar top edges for abutting and supporting said planar table top. 5.The invention according to claim 4 in which said first and secondelongated guide members have opposed longitudinal tracks, saidcooperable means comprising track follower members projecting fromopposite sides of both said jaws and received within said tracks forlongitudinal movement along said guide members.
 6. The inventionaccording to claim 5 comprising means for securing each of said jaws ina fixed position relative to said guide members.
 7. The inventionaccording to claim 1 further comprising at least one locking boltextending through one of said jaws and threadedly secured to the otherof said jaws for locking said jaws in fixed spaced relationship forsecurely gripping the opposite surfaces of the column of said vehiclebumper jack.
 8. The invention according to claim 1 in which one sidesurface of the column of the bumper jack includes vertically spacedratchet notches, and the gripping surface of one of said jaws comprisesat least one projecting tooth for engaging said ratchet notches inoperative position for supporting said table top upon the top of saidcolumn.